Thanks for your help. It's a bit frustrating that Dooney and Bourke seems to take the default position that their bags never benefit from a little attention, when that's pretty obviously not the case.
Some other brands have their own conditioning products (
Coach and Brahmin) come to mind. Then they can test the conditioner on their own leathers and be sure (?) there will be no negative surprises. But even with those brands, we need to do research. I've had sales associates tell me to use their conditioner on all the bags I purchased. When I've looked at the websites, I've found that some of the brands own leathers should not
be conditioned, even by their own label conditioner. Shiny embossed leathers and snake embossed leathers are just a few that I found out should not be conditioned.
That's when I realized that the interaction
of the conditioner (even the brands own product) with various leather treatment might not
always be a good thing. The devil is always in the details.
And care of leather handbags extends beyond conditioning/cleaning but also includes
storage issues. Just because a handbag comes in a plastic bag does not mean it is safe
to store the bag in that bag long term. Or to store the bag in a plastic box. And what
about the cardboard boxes the handbags come in (even the most high end expensive
designer bags)..... is that good for the leather long term? What about the tissue paper?
Will a dark color dust bag cause color transfer if the bag is pressed up against another handbag or a wall? I have lots more questions than answers.
So when I see a handbag that someone has owned that has an issue with the color
or finish, I wonder.... was this a manufacturing defect or was it something the owner
did (while trying to care for the handbag) that just interacted poorly with the leather/dyes/finishing?
And don't get me started on patent leather and the effect of perfume, hairspray,
and other chemicals. Even the most random, single droplet can eat right thru
the coating and color.
